sustainability and the fixed bed nuclear reactor (fbnr)

Sustainability 2012, 4, 1683-1710; doi:10.3390/su4081683

sustainability ISSN 2071-1050

www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Review

Sustainability and the Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR)

Farhang Sefidvash

FBNR Technology LLC; Av. Carlos Gomes 257/602, Porto Alegre, 90480-003, Brazil;

E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; Tel.: +55-51-32091938

Received: 16 June 2012; in revised form: 16 July 2012 / Accepted: 18 July 2012 /

Published: 6 August 2012

Abstract: Sustainability as a multifaceted and holistic concept is analyzed. Sustainability

involves human relationship with elements such as natural environment, economy, power,

governance, education and technology with the ultimate purpose of carrying forward an

ever-advancing civilization. The Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) is an innovative,

small, simple in design, inherently safe, non-proliferating, and environmentally friendly

concept that its deployment can generate energy in a sustainable manner contributing to the

prosperity of humanity. The development of FBNR will provide electricity as well as

desalinated water through a simple but advanced technology for the developing, as well as

developed countries. FBNR is environmentally friendly due to its inherent safety and the

convenience of using its spent fuel as the source of radiation for irradiation purposes in

agriculture, industry, and medicine. Politically, if a ping pong game brought peace between

China and USA, a program of development of FBNR supported by the peace loving

international community can become a more mature means to bring peace among certain

apparently hostile nations who crave sustainable energy, desalinated water and simple

advanced technology.

Keywords: inherent safety; water desalination; economic system; environment;

human nature; education; technology; organic development; IAEA INPRO; innovative

nuclear reactor

1. Introduction

The rapidly growing world population desiring an ever increasing standard of living while living on

Earth with limited natural resources and having environmental limitations, make the subject of

sustainability of utmost importance. The growing process of globalization, which came about due to

OPEN ACCESS

Sustainability 2012, 4 1684

the advancement of technologies of communication and transport, has created a total interdependency

among all the nations of the world in all aspects being economic, cultural or otherwise. Before the

advent of the industrial revolution and the process of mass production, the production to supply

consumer goods to the peoples was the essential basis of the economic systems. In those conditions

even slavery was justified to supply the necessary goods to the populations. The importance of

production was so great that even the founders of the old religions while teaching love and compassion

could not and did not forbid slavery as higher production was necessary to supply the basic needs of

the populations. However, in the present world situation the excess of production and consumerism

have become a threat to the Earth’s natural resources and the environment. Therefore, it is important to

obtain a deep understanding of sustainability that involves the nature of human beings and their

conformity with the natural environment. This will enable us to adopt an adequate system of

governance to avoid bringing misery to future generations, but on the contrary, to build a society

where we can secure for the future generations the conditions that can guarantee them true prosperity.

2. World Summit on Sustainable Development

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, was planned to be attended

by Heads of State and Government of 193 Member States, as well as other representatives [1]. The

so-called “major groups”—non-governmental organizations, business groups, indigenous communities,

local authorities, farmers’ organizations, children and youth groups, women’s organizations and the

scientific and technological community—all having their spaces guaranteed, in order to represent civil

society. The two central themes to Rio+20 were a green economy in the context of sustainable

development and poverty eradication all within an institutional framework of sustainable development.

Some 130 heads of state and government, along with more than 50,000 representatives of

international agencies, civil society, and other groups, attended the Conference, which has

aimed to assess progress on sustainable development since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Two major

themes—building a green economy and creating a better institutional framework—have been

discussed in numerous forums. The concept of world-encompassing trusteeship was launched where

the world leaders seeking to promote sustainable development should embrace the principle that each

human being enters the world as a trust of the whole and, in turn, bears a measure of responsibility for

the welfare of all. As long as one group of nations perceives its interests in opposition to another,

progress will be limited and short-lived. Among the other areas discussed was the need for a

principle-based approach to collective decision-making and the importance of addressing both

extremes of the poverty-wealth spectrum [2].

3. Sustainability

Sustainable development implies ensuring that it meets the needs of the present generation of

human beings without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

It contains within it the key concept of “need” and not “desire”, as desire has no limits and satisfying it

is devastating. It is impossible to satisfy desires in the world where natural resources are limited and

production necessarily brings about pollution. Sustainable development is not simply about protecting

the environment, but it is about effectively tackling interconnected challenges related to both human


and environmental survival. Humanity is an organically integrated whole governed by relations of

interconnection, mutuality and balance. The well-being of each part is inseparable from the well-being

of the whole. Sustainability is a multifaceted concept. It involves our relationship with elements such as

the natural environment, human nature, knowledge, power, governance, economics, equality, education

and technology. The purpose of human beings on Earth is to carry forward an ever-advancing

civilization in a sustainable manner.

At the Rio+20 Conference, the following was defined: Environment, society, and economy are the

three dimensions of sustainable development. The key to sustainable development is change of

paradigm. The basis of a sustainable society is not too much and not too little, but moderation in

all things.

4. Environment

Humanity must consider itself the trustees, or stewards of the planet’s vast resources and its

biological diversity. We must learn to make use of the earth’s natural resources, both renewable and

non-renewable, in a manner that ensures sustainability and equity into the distant future. This attitude

of stewardship will require full consideration of the potential environmental consequences of all

development activities. It will compel humanity to temper its actions with moderation and humility,

realizing that the true value of nature cannot be expressed only in economic terms. It will also require a

deep understanding of the natural world and its role in humanity’s collective development. Therefore,

sustainable environmental management must be seen as a fundamental responsibility that must be

shouldered [3].

At the Rio+20 Conference, the following was elucidated: Water and environment do not belong

only to humankind, but to allbeings on Earth. We all are born with the right to breathe air and drink

water. Therefore, air and clean water are human rights. Water is not property. Nature has its own

values. Nature has the right to stay clean. If we allow micro control of water resources, then it will lead

to the macro control of rivers and the seas. Availability and management are two dimensions of water.

5. Human Nature

A model of human nature and functioning sees man as the product of two basic conditions, the

physical (material) and the spiritual (non-material). The physical dimension of man’s existence derives

from his genetic endowment, determined at conception, plus the interaction of this configuration with

the environment. This interaction produces an internal, physical milieu, which is unique to each

individual, though sharing common features with all members of the human species. The spiritual

dimension of man’s nature derives from the existence of a non-material entity, the soul, which is

individualized at the moment of conception. Just as the physical body of man has various physical

capacities, so the soul has its capacities, called spiritual capacities of man. Among the most important

spiritual capacities of man are those of the intellect or understanding, the heart or feeling capacity, and

the volition or will. The interactions of the individual with his environment affect not only his body but

his soul as well. They develop both the genetically given physical capacities and the initially given

spiritual capacities. These interactions may be called learning or education, and they give rise to a third

aspect of man’s total character, an aspect that is both physical and spiritual. In sum, there are three


essential aspects of the character of man: his genetic endowment, which is surely physical; his soul and

its capacities, which are purely spiritual; and education, which is both physical and spiritual. Human

beings differ from animals by spiritual qualities that involve intellect, sentiment and volition. Intellect

involves reasoning, memory, perception, and imagination. Sentiment involves love, intuition,

compassion, and benevolence. Volition or will is the capacity to initiate and sustain an action [4].

6. Power and Authority

There are four types of power behind an authority: (1) force, such as military force that executes the

orders; (2) negotiation, involves the exchange of favors; (3) integration, which uses logic and

principles of human rights; and (4) love, that is hopefully to be the mechanism used in the future world

society. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love.

A prosperous society will come about only when its peoples and authorities will interconnect through

love and respect and their actions are guided by higher spiritual values.

The power is with people who are at the bottom of the pyramid of society and who elect the

members of their governing institutions. The authority is with the governing institutions. People must

have confidence in their authorities that they are in the institutions to serve them. When these two are

interconnected through love and respect, then the society will function effectively.

The educational process should place emphasis on moral values in order to create a society in which

authority and power are harmoniously interconnected in the pyramid of society, from top to bottom and

bottom to top, respectively. The authority in such a society will be achieved through love and respect of

individuals to the institutions governing the society. Rigid rules of behavior and over centralization of

authority belong to the age of humanity’s childhood; similarly, unchecked freedom and unrelenting

criticism are representative of the age of adolescence. New insights on power are required for the age of

human maturity.

7. Governance

Governance is the sum of the many ways individuals and institutions—public and private—manage

their affairs. It is a continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be

accommodated and cooperative action may be taken. Global governance involves non-governmental as

well as governmental organizations, citizen’s movements, multinational corporations and the global

capital market. Interacting with these are global mass media [5].

The authority to direct the affairs of the world locally, nationally and internationally must be

conferred on elected institutions. However, the power to accomplish the tasks of the community

resides primarily in the mass of the public. The authority of the institutions is an irrevocable necessity

for the progress of humanity; its exercise is an art to be mastered. The power of action in the individual

must be unlocked at the level of individual initiative and surges at the level of collective volition. The

elected authorities in such a society must have the highest moral values possible to be able to achieve

such trust and love. Therefore, they cannot be elected through the present day process of election

customary in the so-called democratic societies. Corruption is inherent to the present system of

nomination and electoral campaign. The elected individual becomes “corrupted” even before starting


his work as he no longer can act freely according to his conscience, but needs to act in favor of those

who supported and paid for his/her electoral campaign.

At the Rio+20 Conference, the following was said: Never before has the world produced so much

wealth, and the world never had such extreme poverty. The lack of jobs, especially for youth, is the

cause of most of the problems such as violence, drugs, etc. We need to have a vision to put into action

to abolish poverty. Poverty is related to human dignity, power, and requires good governance.

Governance involves the stages of maturity of the parties involved. Humanity as a whole can be

exemplified as a single human being goes through three stages of childhood, adolescence, and maturity

during its process of development. The stage of childhood is the stage of dependency seeking help.

The stage of adolescence is the stage of seeking independency and thus the stage of rebelling. The stage

of maturity seeks dialogue and going through processes of consultation to solve problems. Therefore,

before reaching maturity, there is no hope for humanity to solve its problems and reach world unity.

8. Economic System

We must attain a proper understanding of the role of economics. Failure to place economics into the

broader context of humanity’s social and spiritual existence has led to a corrosive materialism in the

world’s more economically advantaged regions, and persistent conditions of deprivation among the

masses of the world population. Economics should serve people’s needs. The societies should not be

expected to reformulate themselves to fit the economic models. The ultimate function of economic systems

should be to equip the peoples and institutions of the world with the means to achieve the real purpose of

development: that is, the cultivation of the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.

The purpose of a real economic system is to bring about the necessary physical and material means

for individuals and the society to live in comfort, to be able to dedicate their lives to the activities of

higher values and their spiritual progress. An economic system should provide the minimum necessary

for the survival, health, and education of every human being thus eliminating the extremes of wealth

and poverty.

Any economic system needs a stimulus to make the individuals work and provide the material and

services needed by the others. In the present economic systems, this basis is production and

consumption. In such a system, the production, not only the production of useful goods but even the

superfluous items, need to be stimulated to keep the economic system functioning. The production of

superfluous goods results in the exhaustion of the worlds’ limited natural resources and increases

pollution. Generally speaking, any item that is produced comes about from the combination of materials

and energy, principally electric energy. Electricity production is inherently a pollution producing process.

Therefore, production of anything involves increase of pollution besides the reduction of the Earth’s

natural resources.

The future economic system needs an adequate basis for stimulation through which people are

motivated to work. The materialistic basis of production may be replaced by the spiritual basis of service

and cooperation; thereby, educating people that work performed in the spirit of service to humanity is

of highest merit in the society, and it is equivalent to the act of worship in religious terms. Education

for such a mind-set, in a relatively short time, will bring about people who will produce products and

services of highest quality and the best utility, with minimum waste and environmental impact.


The advance of civilization depends on the dedication of individuals to work. In the present

capitalist society, the “desire” to consume goods and services, motivates the majority to work. This

“desire” may correspond to the “need” of the individuals or not. The desire to serve encourages people

to work exceptionally well, beyond their minimum needs, helping society grow in a sustainable manner.

If only “desire for superfluous consumption” turned into “contentment” and no other motivation of

higher values takes its place, there is a danger of bringing stagnation to the advancement of the society.

The real economy is the result of a sustainable production and consumption process stimulated by

the higher principles of a value system such as service and cooperation. This requires re-education and

transformation of individuals through the development of human’s spiritual qualities. We need to

embark on building a new world economic system in such a manner to bring about prosperity for

humanity. Prosperity of humanity means satisfying the material and spiritual needs of humanity which

should become the goal of any economic system.

9. The Concept of Green Economy

The UN Environment Program defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human

well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource

efficient and socially inclusive. The green economy within the concept of sustainable development and

elimination of extreme richness and poverty would ultimately entail a radical and complete

transformation of human civilization.

Sustainable production is not simply about ‘greener’ technology but rather, should involve systems

that enable all human beings to contribute to the productive process. In such a system, all are

producers, and all have the opportunity to earn (or receive, if unable to earn) enough to meet their

needs. More than simply the means of generating wealth and meeting basic needs, work provides a

role in the community and developing one’s talents, refining one’s character, rendering service and

contributing to the advancement of society.

At the Rio+20 Conference, the following was said: Green economy requires payment for

environmental questions. Green economy puts monetary value on the environment. This adds further

distance to nature. This serves economic gain, and not human well-being. The financial market should

work towards the direction of a real productive economy. The new textbook on economy should say

that there is no economy without environment and for the sake of sustainable development emphasis

on the word “growth” should be substituted with “environment”.

10. Prosperity

There are various concepts of prosperity: (1) Prosperity as wealth. Even though wealth is a

necessary condition for prosperity, it is not a sufficient condition in itself. Otherwise, there would not

be any unhappy rich people or happy poor people; (2) Prosperity as the ability to satisfy any immediate

desire. This cannot be real prosperity, as we know many immediate pleasures must be sacrificed for

future gains; (3) Real prosperity involves the satisfaction of all the physical and spiritual needs of the

individual. Therefore, true prosperity may be defined as the holistic fulfillment of all physical and

spiritual needs of a human being. The spiritual needs are related to the intellect, sentiment, and


volition. Thus wealth and economic growth are necessary but not sufficient conditions for prosperity.

The future economic system and its activities should bring about, in a sustainable manner, material as

well as intellectual and emotional growth, empowering people into action by their free will to the

service of humanity, and thereby helping the progress of an ever-advancing civilization.

11. Education

To implement any vision of a society, it is only possible through education, in particular moral

education. Education differs from instruction in that it forms the individual and brings about

transformation. The children and youth of today are the citizens and administrators of the future

society. Parents, schools, and mass media are educators and builders of the future society. A value

system based on equality and unity of humanity needs to be taught. The concept of unity of mankind

implies the necessity of cooperation amongst individuals and service to humanity. That is why the

establishment of unity of humankind is the basis to the construction of a sustainable future society.

Unity is not uniformity, but it is a dynamic process of unification of diverse peoples in a common

understanding, thus bringing about unity in diversity. This consciousness will transform the behavior

of the future society. In today’s understanding of our economic system, for example, we produce

things in a manner to gain maximum profit, but we should be motivated to produce items with

maximum benefit to the consumers, thus having highest quality to last longer, and have multipurpose

functions. This attitude will result in consuming less material and energy resources for production.

The moral values need to be implemented in society through the process of education that will bring

about the transformation of the individuals. This process is sometimes called spiritualization. The

concept of spirituality according to William Hatcher is the process of a full, adequate, appropriate and

harmonic development of the human beings spiritual capacities, such as intellect (reasoning, memory,

perception, and imagination), sentiment (love, intuition, compassion) and volition (free will—the

ability to start an action and give continuity to it). This process will bring about the future golden

society made of noble individuals who will be engaged in the growing process of higher intellect, more

noble sentiment and motivated to work to contribute to an ever advancing civilization [4].

At the Rio+20 Conference, the following was said: Education is at the foundation of everything.

Transformation comes about through education. Educate the future leaders of the world who are the

children and youth of today. If we do not leave a better world for the future, let us leave better children

for the world of the future. We should concentrate on educating the people and not the governments,

because people change the world and not the governments.

12. Technology

The majority of technological development is driven by market forces that do not reflect the basic

needs of the world’s people. Furthermore, the emphasis on the transfer of technology without

accompanying efforts to increase participation in the generation and application of knowledge can only

serve to widen the gap between the rich and the poor; i.e., between the ‘developers’ and the ‘users’ of

technology. The establishment of centers for research and training constitutes a major challenge to

sustainable development. If successfully met, however, the result will be to break the present unbalanced

flow of knowledge in the world and dissociate development from ill-conceived present processes.


The process of harnessing and deploying technical innovation takes time. This is why organizational

capacity-building must be a central component of development practice. Apart from individuals

acquiring skills, there has to be a learning process where local centers of technology are not only

absorbing knowledge, but are also generating knowledge [3].

13. Energy

The increase in world population and its desire for a higher standard of living requires an ever

increasing energy production, especially electricity. None of the forms of energy alone is a panacea.

The solution to the energy problem is in the utilization of all forms of energy available. Alternative

forms of energy are insufficient to supply the world energy demand, but nuclear energy can be produced

with abundance. Generation of nuclear energy does not contribute to the effect of global warming.

Generation of nuclear energy by the future innovative reactors will be fully safe, environmentally

friendly and acceptable to the general public.

About 30% of the world’s primary energy consumption is used for electricity generation, about

15% is used for transportation, and the remaining 55% is converted into hot water, steam and heat.

Non-electric applications include desalination, hot water for district heating, and heat energy for

petroleum refining, for the petrochemical industry, and for the conversion of hard coal or lignite. For

non-electric applications, the specific temperature requirements vary greatly. Hot water for district

heating and heat for seawater desalination require temperatures in the 80 to 200 °C range, temperatures

in the 250 to 550 °C range are required for petroleum refining processes. Water-cooled reactors can

provide heat up to about 300 °C [6].

At the global level, the energy system—supply, transformation, delivery and use—is the dominant

contributor to climate change, representing around 60 per cent of total current greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions. Current patterns of energy production and consumption are unsustainable and threaten the

environment on both local and global scales. We need to address the dual challenges of meeting the

world’s energy needs for development while contributing to a reduction in GHGs. Clean energy, in

particular electrical energy, will be an essential contributor to the sustainability of future society.

Nuclear energy generated by innovative nuclear reactors with new philosophies of safety and design

will have an important role in bringing about sustainability.

14. Global Warming

The problem of global warming is no longer a philosophical discussion, but it is a fact seriously

threatening the future of humanity. The energy conservation and alternative forms of energy such as

solar, wind, and bio even though having important roles, do not satisfy the energy demand generated

by an increasing world population that desires to increase its standard of living.

A UN panel on global warming made impressive observations: “As the scientific consensus on

global warming grows, it’s time to look more closely at how to share the economic, social, and

humanitarian burdens that climate change will likely bring. If sea levels rise at the rates they are

predicting, we may see hundreds of millions of refugees. Where will they go? Who will take them in?

What does it mean about immigration regulations? These were only some of the moral and ethical

questions that are being posed by the looming effects of global warming. The future will be catastrophic


for all communities, for all countries, but particularly for those who have already been identified as

particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Some forecasts suggest that small island states

will disappear entirely under the rising ocean. This is the time to remind the international community that

ethics and morality do play a very important role in any human activity, especially when we have a

situation where climate change is affecting such a large number, especially the poor and vulnerable”.

15. Advantages of Small Nuclear Reactor

Small nuclear reactors best satisfy the needs of the future world specially that of developing countries.

At a particular point in time, when a necessity to limit the emissions of carbon dioxide is acknowledged

by the majority of countries, small reactors will have a good chance to be implemented in many

developing and industrialized countries and may contribute immensely to the sustainable development

through electricity production, water desalination, and process heat applications.

Some of the important advantages of the small reactors may be summarized as follows:

They are adequate for countries with small electric grids and insufficient infrastructure.

They are adequate for countries that have limited capacities for investment, especially in

relation to hard currency, and small turnover of capital in the electricity market.

They offer an option of electricity generation coupled with seawater desalination, which meets

the urgent needs of many developing countries.

They could offer a variety of passive safety features that may be difficult to obtain with large

reactors. This fact makes them a good potential choice for countries with insufficient nuclear

infrastructure and a limited number of human resources.

They provide an attractive domain for fuel leasing and facilitate an option of factory fuelled

and transportable power plant, such as barge-mounted, which may be a solution for countries

with limited capabilities in mastering nuclear fuel cycle, or for those who prefer to be just the

end users of nuclear power.

In industrialized countries, electricity market deregulation is calling for power generation

flexibility that smaller reactors may offer.

They are of particular interest for advanced future non-electric applications, such as hydrogen

production, coal liquefaction, etc.

They provide means for learning knowledge and technology from a small prototype plant.

As nuclear reactors do not emit carbon dioxide, they will provide the developing and

industrialized countries with sustainable development through electricity production, water

desalination and process heat applications.

Small nuclear reactors such as the Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) are adequate for sea

water desalination as well as generation of electricity. There are two types of co-generation

schemes: series and parallel. The series co-generation scheme requires relatively low

investment and has an inherently higher efficiency while the parallel co-generation

has a higher flexibility than the series method, but a lower efficiency [7].


16. INPRO and Sustainability

INPRO is the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles initiated by the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [8]. The objective of INPRO is to support the safe,

sustainable, economic and proliferation resistant use of nuclear technology to meet the global energy

needs of the 21st century. The IAEA has committed itself to “Help to ensure that nuclear energy is

available to contribute in fulfilling energy needs in the 21st century in a sustainable manner; and to

bring together both technology holders and technology users to consider jointly the international and

national actions required to achieve desired innovations in nuclear reactors and fuel cycles”. INPRO

considers sustainability as a holistic approach in terms of economy, safety, environment, physical

protection, waste management, proliferation resistance, and infra-structure. INPRO is destined to bring

about a new era of nuclear energy.

17. FBNR Nuclear Reactor

The Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) is a small reactor (70 MWe) without the need of on-site

refueling. It utilizes the pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology. It has the characteristics of being

simple in design, inherently safe, passive cooling, proliferation resistant, and reduced environmental

impact [9–16].

The FBNR fuel chamber is fuelled in the factory. The sealed fuel chamber is then transported to and

from the site. The FBNR has a long fuel cycle time and there is no need for onsite refueling. The

reactor makes extensive use of PWR technology. It is an integrated primary system design.

FBNR Nuclear Reactor is an innovative nuclear reactor that meets all the INPRO criteria and

philosophy. Small reactors have the advantages of serving the needs of local communities, need low

capital investment and do not require expensive power transmission system. FBNR can serve as a

multipurpose plant producing electricity, desalinated water, industrial steam, and supply district

heating simultaneously. FBNR is inherently safe that implies total safety and environmentally friendly.

The used fuel of FBNR may not be considered nuclear waste since it can serve as a source of radiation

for irradiation purposes which has useful application in agriculture, medicine and industry.

FBNR is a foolproof non-proliferating reactor that cannot be misused for military purposes. It is

economic with low capital investment. It can contribute to the solution of ever increasing demand for

energy in a world that is in the grip of an economic crisis. FBNR uses the well proven PWR

technology. The countries that adopt FBNR will participate in the research and development of the

technology and become the owners of nuclear technology and not merely the users. Science may be

transferred, but technology is not transferable—it is developed.

The newcomer countries to nuclear energy can participate in the development of FBNR while they

are implementing the IAEA Milestones Guidelines [17]. Any country can become a stakeholder in the

FBNR project. Participation in the FBNR project brings with it sophisticated technology and wealth to

the country. It will also have a positive impact on other industries in that country.

The inherent safety and passive cooling characteristics of the FBNR nuclear reactor eliminate the

need for containment. However, an underground containment is envisaged for the reactor to mitigate

any imagined adverse event, but mainly to help with the visual effects by hiding the industrial equipment


underground and presenting the nuclear plant as a beautiful garden compatible with an environment

which would be acceptable to the public. The reactor can be operated with a reduced number of operators

or even be remotely operated without any operator on site. The FBNR fuel chamber is fuelled in the

factory. The sealed fuel chamber is then transported to and from the site.

17.1. Reactor Description

The reactor as shown in the schematic Figure 1, has in its upper part the reactor core and a steam

generator and in its lower part the fuel chamber. The core consists of two concentric perforated

zircaloy tubes of 31 cm and 171 cm in diameters, inside which, during the reactor operation, the

spherical fuel elements are held together by the coolant flow in a fixed bed configuration, forming a

suspended core. The coolant flows vertically up into the inner perforated tube and then, passing

horizontally through the fuel elements and the outer perforated tube, enters the outer shell where it

flows up vertically to the steam generator. The reserve fuel chamber is a 60 cm diameter tube made of

high neutron absorbing alloy, which is directly connected underneath the core tube. The fuel chamber

consists of a helical 40 cm diameter tube flanged to the reserve fuel chamber that is sealed by the

national and international authorities. A grid is provided at the lower part of the tube to hold the fuel

elements within it. A steam generator of the shell-and-tube type is integrated in the upper part of the

module. A control rod can slide inside the centre of the core for fine reactivity adjustments. The reactor

is provided with a pressurizer system to keep the coolant at a constant pressure. The pump circulates

the coolant inside the reactor moving it up through the fuel chamber, the core, and the steam generator.

Thereafter, the coolant flows back down to the pump through the concentric annular passage. At a flow

velocity called terminal velocity, the water coolant carries the 15 mm diameter spherical fuel elements

from the fuel chamber up into the core. A fixed suspended core is formed in the reactor. In the shut

down condition, the suspended core breaks down and the fuel elements leave the core and fall back

into the fuel chamber by the force of gravity. The fuel elements are made of UO2 micro spheres

embedded in SiC and cladded by zircaloy or stainless steel.

Any signal from any of the detectors, due to any initiating event, will cut-off power to the pump,

causing the fuel elements to leave the core and fall back into the fuel chamber, where they remain in a

highly subcritical and passively cooled conditions. The fuel chamber is cooled by natural convection

transferring heat to the water in the tank housing the fuel chamber.

The pump circulates the water coolant in the loop and at the mass flow rate of about 220 kg/sec,

corresponding to the terminal velocity of 1.50 m/sec in the reserve fuel chamber, carries the fuel

elements into the core and forms a fixed bed. At the operating flow velocity of 7.23 m/sec,

corresponding to the mass flow rate of 1060 kg/sec, the fuel elements are firmly held together by a

pressure of 0.188 bars that exerts a force of 27.1 times its weight, thus forming a stable fixed bed. The

fixed bed is compacted by a pressure of 1.3 bars. The coolant flows radially in the core and after

absorbing heat from the fuel elements enters the integrated heat exchanger of tube and shell type.

Thereafter, it circulates back into the pump and the fuel chamber. The long-term reactivity is supplied

by fresh fuel addition and possibly aided by a fine control rod that moves in the center of the core

controls the short-term reactivity. A piston type core limiter adjusts the core height and controls the

amount of fuel elements that are permitted to enter the core from the reserve chamber. The control


system is conceived to have the pump in the “not operating” condition and only operates when all the

signals coming from the control detectors simultaneously indicate safe operation. Under any possible

inadequate functioning of the reactor, the power does not reach the pump and the coolant flow stops

causing the fuel elements to fall out of the core by the force of gravity and become stored in the

passively cooled fuel chamber. The water flowing from an accumulator, which is controlled by a multi

redundancy valve system, cools the fuel chamber functioning as the emergency core cooling system.

The other components of the reactor are essentially the same as in a conventional pressurized water

reactor. Detailed technical information is presented in Table 1.

Figure 1. Schematic Design of the Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FNBR).

Figure 2. Underground Containment.


Table 1. Technical data for the Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR).

Parameter Value Parameter Value

Power

Coolant temperature rise after a LOFA

after 10 days (°C) <1

Net power generation (MWe) 70 Water needed to cool during 10 days

after LOCA (m3) 0.9

Thermal power generation (MWt) 218 Neutronics

Core power density (KWt/lit) 45.6 Moderator Coefficient (mK/°C)—BOC −3 × 10−4

Pump power (MWe) 2 Moderator Coefficient (mK/°C)—EOC −8 × 10−4

Hydraulics Doppler Coefficient (mK/°C)—EOC −7 × 10−5

Coolant volume (m3) 10 Core height level limiter (CHLL)

Sensitivity (mK/cm)—BOC 0.37

Coolant mass flow (kg/sec) 1,060 Core height level limiter (CHLL)

Sensitivity (mK/cm)—EOC 0.059

Coolant pressure (bar) 160 Boron Sensitivity (mK/ppm)—BOC 0.039

Pressure loss in the loop (bar) 12.3 Boron Sensitivity (mK/ppm)—EOC 0.080

Pressure loss in the bed (bar) 1.3 Fuel Burnup [MWD/T/Years] 15,300/2.2

Terminal velocity (m/sec) 1.5 Plutonium Production (Kg) 62

Operating coolant velocity (m/sec) 7.23 Remaining U-235 (Kg) 340

Thermal Core dimensions

Coolant inlet temperature (°C) 290 Core height (cm) 200

Coolant outlet temperature (°C) 326 Core inner diameter (cm) 31

Coolant average temperature (°C) 308 Core outer diameter (cm) 171

Fuel operating temperature (°C) 354 Core volume (m3) 4.78

Coolant inlet enthalpy (kJ/kg) 1,284 Fuel Element in the core (Ton) 23.2

Coolant inlet density (kg/m3) 747 UO2 in the core (Ton) 11.5

Coolant average density (Kg/m3) 710 Fuel element

Enthalpy rise in the core (kJ/kg) 1,490 Fuel element diameter (cm) 1.5

Film boiling convective heat transfer coefficient

at 300 °C (W/m2·°C) 454 Zircaloy clad thickness (cm) 0.03

Fuel element average thermal conductivity

(W/m·°C) 12.5 Number of fuel elements in the core. 1.62 × 106

Thermal conductivity Zirconium (W/m·°C) 18 UO2 in each fuel element (% vol) 23.9

Thermal conductivity Uranian Dioxide (W/m·°C) 7 UO2 density (gr/cm3) 10.5

Fuel element average specific heat (J/kg·°C) Zirconium (gr/cm3) 6.5

17.2. Fuel Element Description

The CERMET fuel is proposed for the FBNR reactor. The fuel consists of coated UO2 kernels

embedded in a zirconium matrix, which is then coated with a protective outer zirconium layer.

CERMET Fuels have significant potential to enhance fuel performance because of low internal fuel

temperatures and low stored energy. The combination of these benefits with the inherent proliferation

resistance, high burnup capability, and favorable neutronics properties of the thorium fuel cycle

produces intriguing options for using thoria based cermet nuclear fuel in advanced nuclear fuel cycles.

The FBNR fuel element consists of 500 microns in diameter UO2 microspheres covered by

25 microns thick zirconium cladding embedded in a spherical zirconium matrix that is cladded by


300 microns thick Zircaloy-4 cladding to form a 15 mm diameter fuel element. The option of SiC

matrix and stainless steel cladding is also being considered.

17.3. Reactor Control

Signals transmitted from a multitude of detectors and fed into the control system will make the

FBNR a totally safe nuclear reactor, and guard it against, sabotage, terrorist action, explosion,

earthquake, flooding, fire, tornado, or any other natural or man-made disaster. Any abnormal signal

outside the range of operation from any of the detectors will signal an accident alarm which in turn

will automatically cut off power to the pump resulting in the fuel elements to fall out of the reactor

core, by the force of gravity, and become stored safely in the passively cooled fuel chamber.

18. Neutronics Calculations

The reactor physics calculations are made using the SCALE computational codes. SCALE

(Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation) is a modular code system that was

originally developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The SCALE system utilizes

well-established computer codes and methods within standard analysis sequences that: (1) Provide an

input format designed for the occasional user and/or novice, (2) Automate the data processing and

coupling between modules, and (3) Provide accurate and reliable results.

The results of Ke as a function of boron concentration for cold and hot reactor are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Schematic figure of inherently safe non-proliferating nuclear reactor.

The neutron multiplication factor of the reactor as a function of core height for various boron

concentrations of 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm are shown in Figure 4.

It is seen that the height up to about 120 cm, the core height has a significant influence on

reactivity. At higher values the sensitivity is small. This helps the reactivity control by movement of

core height level limiter (CHLL) without the need of having fine control rods. However, there is a need

to use boron poison to reduce keff at the beginning of the burnup cycle. The Ke as a function of the core

height and boron concentrations are shown in Figure 4.


The sensitivity of reactivity to the core height for different boron concentrations is shown in Figure 5.

The excess reactivity as a function of U-235 enrichment is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 4. Ke as a function of boron concentration.

Figure 5. Ke as a function of the core height.

Figure 6. Sensitivity of reactivity to core height.

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 50 100 150 200 250

Height [cm]

d(m

Ke)

/dH

0 ppm 1000 ppm 2000 ppm 3000 ppm


18.1. Plutonium Utilization

As a result of massive reductions in deployed nuclear warheads, and their subsequent dismantlement,

large quantities of surplus weapons-grade plutonium are and will be stored until its ultimate disposition

is achieved. The most efficient and effective way to dispose of surplus weapons-grade plutonium is to

fabricate it into fuel and use it for generation of electrical energy in commercial nuclear power plants.

Weapons-grade plutonium can be used as fuel in FBNR. This recovers energy and economic value

from weapons-grade plutonium, which otherwise represents a large cost liability to maintain in

safeguarded and secure storage. MOX fuels are well developed and are currently used in a number of

LWRs. Plutonium-bearing fuels without uranium (non-fertile fuels) would require some development.

The plutonium from the reprocessing of FBNR spent fuel will in the future be also a fuel resource.

Here, the reactor is assumed to be fuelled by the plutonium coming from the reprocessing of FBNR

spent fuel after 840 days of burnup. The fuel is thus composed of 95% U-238 and 5% Pu.

The calculated Ke as a function of core height and the percent Pu mixture in the fuel are presented

in Figure 7 it shows a comparison between uranium and plutonium fuelled reactor in regards to the

enrichment effects.

Figure 7. Excess of reactivity as a function of enrichment.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50

Enrichment [%]

m

Ke

18.2. Thorium Utilization

World thorium reserves are estimated to be about 3 times more abundant than the natural uranium

reserves. Utilization of thorium would make possible to exploit new nuclear fuel reserves. Further

advantages of thorium would be enhanced nuclear safeguarding because thorium will be converted to

uranium, a significantly benign material compared to plutonium with respect to safeguard considerations

as well as radio toxicity. As thorium by itself is not a nuclear fuel, the 235U must serve as a booster

fissile fuel material in a thermal reactor, fueled with thorium.

Thorium cycle produces 233U which, from a non-proliferation point of view, is more acceptable

compared to plutonium for two reasons. Firstly, it is contaminated with 232U, which decays to give

highly radioactive daughter products with very hard γ-ray radiation, which has already a very high


level of deterrence and would make handling and diversion difficult. Secondly, the 233U could easily

be denaturized by adding some 238U to the thorium, which would then eliminate the possibility to

make a critical assembly with the bred fuel. In future, thorium may play a larger role in the nuclear fuel

cycle. The superior nuclear properties of 233U over 235U and 239Pu in thermal reactors imply

potential advantages to 233U in advanced reactors including FBNR.

Nuclear reactors produce nuclear waste materials in substantial quantities, which are classified as

fission products, minor actinides (MA) and structural materials, where can be defined the most

hazardous radioactive waste products because of their long term, high level radioactivity. A significant

fraction of reactor waste MA consists of diverse plutonium isotopes, which represents serious public

and political concern with respect to misuse of this plutonium and also accidental release of highly

radiotoxic material in to the environment. Hence, precautions to keep plutonium under strong

security have paramount importance. Some nuclear waste actinides (239Pu, 241Pu, 242mAm and

245Cm) are fissile fuel under thermal neutron spectrum, and all of them become fissile fuel under fast

neutron spectrum.

Some other MA are moderately fissile even under thermal neutron spectrum (238Pu, 241Am and

244Cm). Hence, it is worth to investigate the incineration of MA in the FBNR. Figure 8 shows Ke as a

function of core height.

The following Figure 9 shows Ke as a function of thorium dioxide mixed with uranium dioxide of

5% and 10% enrichment.

Figure 10 shows Ke as a function of core height for a mixture of 20% thorium (ThO2) with uranium

(UO2) of 10% enrichment.

Figure 8. Ke as a function of core height.

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1

1.2

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Height [cm]

Ke

Pu_5.0% Pu_2.2% U235_5.0% U235_2.2%


Figure 9. Comparison of uranium and plutonium fuelled reactor.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

0 5 10 15 20

Enrichment [%]

Ke

Plutonium Uranium

Figure 10. Ke as a function of thorium concentrate.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

ThO2/(UO2 + Tho2)

Ke

5% U235 10% U235

19. Thermal and Hydraulics Calculations of FBNR

An important characteristic of this reactor concept is its relatively high coolant flow rate. Therefore,

it is important to evaluate the pressure losses in different sections of the loop and devise methods to

reduce them and come up with an optimized condition.

The size of the reactor depends on how large the coolant pump we accept to have and what

percentage of the total reactor power produced, we would allow to be fed to the pump. Thus the limit

of the reactor power is not dependent on the design temperatures but on the percent of pump power

consumption. The standard reactor is chosen to be 70 MWe where about 3% of power is consumed by

the pump. One can have a 100, 150, and maximum 165 MWe reactor accepting 6, 19, and 34% of

generated power going to powering the pump respectively. Above this maximum reactor size, the

required pump power will exceed the additional energy produced by the reactor and thus the system


become unproductive. One does not need to use a single pump, but can use a combination of pumps in

parallel and series to meet the needs.

It is seen that in the operating condition of the 70 MWe reactor, the fuel elements are held together

with a pressure of about 0.2 bar and the force on them is more than 27 times the force of gravity, thus

guarantees the bed to remain a fixed bed during the reactor operation.

Figure 11 shows the calculated pressure losses in the reactor. The operating condition of the

70 MWe reactor corresponds to the coolant flow velocity of 7.2 m/s. The minimum coolant velocity of

1.5 m/s being the terminal velocity for the fuel elements. The maximum flow velocity is 25 m/s above

which the reactor operation becomes impractical. Figure 12 shows pressure loss as a function of flow

mass velocity. Figure 13 shows net power of the reactor as a function of coolant velocity.

Figure 11. Ke as a function of core height for 20% thorium and enrichment of 10%.

0.80

0.85

0.90

0.95

1.00

1.05

1.10

1.15

1.20

0 50 100 150 200 250

Core Height [cm]

Ke

Figure 12. Calculated pressure losses.

0

50

100

150

200

0 200 / 1400 / 3

600 / 4800 / 5

1000 / 7

1200 / 8

1400 / 10

1600 / 11

1800 / 12

2000 / 14

2200 / 15

2400 / 16

2600 / 18

2800 / 19

3000 / 20

3200 / 22

3400 / 23

3600 / 25

Mass Flow [kg/s] / Velocity [m/s]

Pre

ss

ure

Lo

ss

[b

ar]

0,00

0,05

0,10

0,15

0,20

0,25

0,30

0,35

0,40

0 14 27 40 54 66 79 90 102 112 122 131 139 147 153 158 161 164 164

Net Reactor Power [MWe]

Pu

mp

Po

we

r F

rac

tio

n

TOTAL Pressure Loss Bed Pressure Loss Pump Power Fraction


Figure 13. Reactor Power, Net Power and Mass Flow for the FBNR.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0 500 / 3

1000 / 7

1500 / 10

2000 / 142500 / 17

3000 / 20

3500 / 24

4000 / 27

4500 / 31

5000 / 34

5500 / 38

6000 / 41

6500 / 44

Mass Flow [kg/s] / Velocity [m/s]

Ne

t P

ow

er [

MW

e]

0 34 68 102 136 170 204 238 272 306 340 374 408 442

Reactor Power [Mwe]

(Reactor Power) - (Pump Power)

20. Technical Summary

The Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) is an innovative small nuclear reactor (70 MWe). The

reactor is evaluated with the INPRO Methodology in respect to safety and non-proliferation aspects.

The inherent safety and fool-proof non-proliferation characteristics of the reactor are demonstrated.

CERMET fuel is proposed for the FBNR reactor. The fuel consists of coated UO2 kernels

embedded in a zirconium or SiC matrix, which is then coated with a protective outer zirconium layer

or stainless steel. The 15 mm diameter spherical fuel elements are transported up into the reactor by

the flow of water coolant creating a suspended core in the reactor. It is seen that in the operating

condition of the 70 MWe reactor, the fuel elements are held together with a pressure of about 0.2 bar

and the force on them is more than 27 times the force of gravity, thus guarantees the bed to remain as a

fixed bed during the reactor operation.

The operating condition of the 70 MWe reactor corresponds to the coolant flow velocity of 7.2 m/s.

The terminal velocity being the minimum coolant velocity to carry the fuel elements into the core is

1.5 m/s. The maximum flow velocity above which the reactor operation becomes impractical is of 25 m/s.

The inlet and outlet temperatures of coolant in the core are 290 °C and 326 °C corresponding to

enthalpies of 1283 and 1489 KJ/Kg giving an enthalpy rise of 206 KJ/kg. The mass coolant rate at the

operating condition is 1060 Kg/s corresponding to a coolant velocity of 7.23 m/s, thus the reactor

produces a thermal power of 218.4 MWt corresponding to an electric power of 70 MWe.

Any signal from any of the detectors, due to any accident event, wills cut-off power to the pump,

causing the fuel elements to leave the core and fall back into the fuel chamber where they remain in a

highly subcritical and passively cooled conditions. The fuel chamber is cooled by natural convection

transferring heat to the water in the tank housing the fuel chamber. In this condition the accumulator


valves, acting under pressure difference, will open automatically and the fuel chamber cooling tank

becomes filled with cold water.

The critical core height is about 200 cm. The core height can be changed by the Core Height Level

Limiter (CHLL). The largest effect of CHLL is 0.37 mK/Cm at the beginning of cycle (BOC) and

decreases to 0.059 mK/Cm at the end of cycle (EOC). The effect of soluble boron in the moderator is

0.039 mK/ppmB at the BOC. The 200 cm height reactor with 2900 ppmB has Ke = 0.99160 and with

2700 has Ke = 0.99981.

It is seen that the moderator coefficient for 3000 ppm is still negative being −3 × 10−4 mK/C. The

Doppler coefficient for 3000 ppm boron is −6 × 10−5 mK/°C. It is seen that each percent of fuel

enrichment contribute to 281 days [5627 MWD/T] of the fuel lifetime.

In the case of a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA), the pressure in the reactor core drops and

consequently the fuel elements fall out of the core and enter the fuel chamber where they remain under

subcritical and passively cooled conditions. The heat transfer calculations show that their temperature

will not exceed ~542 °C and only less than 1 m3 of water from accumulator is necessary to evaporate

during one month of grace period.

The Loss of Flow Accident (LOFA) will be a more favorable accident condition than the LOCA.

Again the fuel elements due to the lack of coolant flow will fall back into the fuel chamber where they

remain under subcritical and passively cooled conditions. There is no need for cooling water from

accumulator to flow in, and the coolant in the loop will absorb the residual heat increasing its

temperature by only less than 1 °C.

The loss of power simply shuts down the pump and the reactor condition will be equivalent to a

LOFA case.

The loss of turbine load or secondary loop break accident will cause the temperature of the cold leg

of the pump increase and thus the control system will shut down the pump. Also the bubbles formed in

the core decrease the moderator density thus due to the negative moderator coefficient,

(−350 mK/(g/cm3)), the reactor becomes subcritical.

The worst condition that any terrorist action can produce will be similar to the LOCA condition.

What is needed will be to protect the fuel chamber physically within a robust structure.

As a result of massive reductions in deployed nuclear warheads, and their subsequent dismantlement,

large quantities of surplus weapons- grade plutonium will be available. The use of Pu fuel in the FBNR

reactor is studied and found to have a similar behavior to uranium fuel.

World thorium reserves are estimated to be about 3 times more abundant than the natural uranium

reserves. Utilization of thorium for FBNR has been studied. It is seem that will enhance the

non-proliferation characteristic of the FBNR reactor.

The limit of the reactor power is not dependent on the design temperatures but on the percent of

pump power consumption. The standard reactor is chosen to be 70 MWe where about 3% of power is

consumed by the pump. One can have a maximum 165 MWe reactor should we accept that 34% of

generated power goes to power the pump. Above this reactor size, the required pump power will

exceed the additional energy produced by the reactor and thus the system become unproductive.

The 200 cm height core has 4.78 m3 volume and contains 2.87 m3 fuel that corresponds to

1.62 millions of spherical fuel elements. The volumetric heat generation is 76.10 w/cm3 or

134.40 watts per sphere. Each fuel element having 7.4 g of UO2 contain 6.52 g of uranium metal.


Under normal operating condition, the temperature of the fuel surface is 357.7 °C corresponds to

the temperature of 414.3 °C at fuel centre giving a temperature difference of 56.6 °C. The critical heat

flux is found to be 2290 kW/m2.

The FBNR is a land-based nuclear power plant for urban or remote localities. The FBNR is

designed to produce electricity alone or to operate as a cogeneration plant producing simultaneously:

electricity, desalinated water, steam for industrial purposes and heat for district heating. A MultiEffect

Distillation (MED) plant may be used for water desalination. An estimated 1000 m3/day of potable

water could be produced at 1 MW (e) reduction of the electric power.

21. Reactor Safety

It is very desirable to develop nuclear reactor concepts that are inherently safe whose safety features

are easily demonstrable without depending on the interference of active safety devices which have some

probability of failing, or depend on operator skills and good judgment, which could vary considerably.

There are only four significant sources of energy in a reactor accident: Nuclear power excursion,

thermal reactions (steam explosion), chemical reactions (zirconium/water and core/concrete), and

radioactive decay heat. The first three can be limited or controlled by proper selection of materials—a

form of inherent safety. The fourth energy source, decay heat, is a slow and inherently restricted form

of energy release.

All current reactors need to include safety systems to remove decay or residual heat produced after

the chain reaction in a reactor has ceased. It is this decay heat that threatens to produce the most

serious of nuclear accidents namely the core melt. The inherently safe reactors such as FBNR are

transparently incapable of producing a core melt. They are “forgiving” reactors, able to tolerate human

and mechanical malfunctions without endangering public health. Also such reactors are called “walk

away” reactors as the key feature of these reactors is their reliance upon passive or non-mechanical,

safety systems.

For FBNR any conceivable accident results in the cutting off the power to the pump that causes the

fuel elements to fall out of the core by the force of gravity and enter the fuel chamber where they

remain under subcritical and passively cooled conditions. The normal state of control system is “switch

off”. The pump is “on” only when all the operating conditions are simultaneously met.

The spherical fuel elements of HTGR type are fixed in the suspended core by the flow of water

coolant. Any malfunction in the reactor system will cut off the power to the coolant pump causing a

stop in the flow. This results in making the fuel elements fall out of the reactor core by the force of

gravity and become stored in the passively cooled fuel chamber under sub critical condition.

22. Fool Proof Non-Proliferation Nuclear Reactor

Under the present world conditions, the first priority of the governments in relation to nuclear

energy is non-proliferation and safeguard of the nuclear reactors. This provides a challenge for the

scientists and technologists to come up with a fool proof nuclear reactor concept.

Both the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) of IAEA

and the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) present methodologies for the evaluation of nuclear

reactors in respect to resistance to nuclear proliferation (PR) and physical protection (PP).


The IAEA through its INPRO recommends “proliferation resistant features and measures should be

provided in innovative nuclear energy systems to minimize the possibilities of misuse of nuclear

materials for nuclear weapons. Both intrinsic features and extrinsic measures are essential, and neither

should be considered sufficient in itself. Extrinsic proliferation resistance measures, such as control

and verification measures will remain essential, whatever the level of effectiveness of intrinsic

features. From a proliferation resistance point of view, the development and implementation of

intrinsic features should be encouraged. Communication between stakeholders will be facilitated by

clear, documented and transparent methodologies for comparison or evaluation/assessment of

proliferation resistance” [18–22].

FBNR is a small reactor and can be designed to have a very long core life. Small Reactors without

On-Site Refueling are defined as reactors which have a capability to operate without refueling and

reshuffling of fuel for a reasonably long period consistent with the plant economics and energy

security, with no fresh and spent fuel being stored at the site outside the reactor during its service life.

They also should ensure difficult unauthorized access to fuel during the whole period of its presence at

the site and during transportation, and design provisions to facilitate the implementation of safeguards.

FBNR being a Small Reactor without On-Site Refueling will be factory produced and fueled and

brought back to the factory for refueling after its fuel lifetime expires. FBNR modules are fabricated,

fueled, and sealed in the factory under the supervision of the IAEA safeguard program. They are taken

to the site and installed in the reactor and will return to the factory as sealed for refueling. This should

assure the safeguard of the nuclear fuel. Adopting a thorium cycle as an intrinsic measure will hinder the

possibility of misuse of nuclear materials for nuclear weapons. The mixing of thorium with low enriched

uranium or plutonium results in the production of U-233 that is diluted along with U-235 in U-238. The

access to uranium-233 will only be possible through isotope separation techniques. Additionally the

production of gamma emitting Tl-208 in the thorium cycle is hindrance to nuclear proliferation.

If the U-Pu cycle is applied, one can increase the Pu-238 concentration by adding Np to the fresh

fuel. From a certain concentration of Pu-238 on (~8%), the alpha decay heat is so strong that the

metallic Pu-sphere, as well as the surrounding chemical explosives, in a nuclear device become plastic

or even melts so that the fuel of the reactor at any time is not useful for weapons. Thus, the

combination of sealing the reactor as described above, and the isotopic denaturing of the irradiated fuel

will additionally increase the proliferation resistance.

There are less than 300 kg of UO2 in a reactor module. There are less than 15 kg of U-235 in a

module. The Pu content of the spent fuel will be calculated, but may be estimated to be less than 10 kg.

Refueling is done in the factory. The fuel elements are confined in the fuel chamber. The FBNR

modules are fabricated, fueled, and sealed in the factory under the supervision of the IAEA safeguard

program. They are taken to the site and installed in the reactor and the spent fuel chamber will return to

its final destination as sealed. The fuel chamber is stored in a passively cooled intermediate storage at

the reactor site before going to the final disposal site or to the reprocessing plant or any other future

destination. This should assure safeguarding of the nuclear fuel. The reactor core is surrounded by a

jacket of downward flowing water, thus there is insufficient neutron leakage for irradiation purposes

outside the pressure vessel. The reactor vessel may be cladded by neutron absorbing materials, if

necessary, to eliminate the possibility of neutron irradiation to any external nuclear material. Only the

fuel chamber is needed to be transported from factory to the site and return.


In conclusion, the proposed reactor meets the IAEA requirements for nonproliferation. The concept

is based on both sealing of the fuel chamber and denaturing of the fuel itself. The sealing of the fuel in

the fuel chamber of a long life reactor, permits the control at any time from “cradle to grave” allowing

the continuity of knowledge (COK) about the fuel which guarantees an effective control. The isotopic

denaturing of the fissile fuel, both in the U-233/Thorium cycle as well as for the classical

Pu-239/Uranium cycle, would further increase the proliferation resistance as it will require isotope

separation technology to produce weapon grade materials. In this way both intrinsic features and

extrinsic proliferation resistance measures are provided. The Continuity of Knowledge (COK) and the

communication between stakeholders are facilitated due to the nature of the design. The proposed

reactor can utilize a variety of fuel cycles and can benefit from a Multilateral Fuel Cycle concept. In

conclusion, the FBNR can be considered as a fool-proof reactor against nuclear proliferation that the

present world is looking for to be assured of both safety and safeguarding.

23. No Need for On-Site Refueling

The reactor’s fuel chamber is fuelled in the factory. The international safeguard authorities seal the

fuel chamber. The FBNR can have a very long fuel cycle time depending on the projected size of

reserve fuel chamber. The core life is decided according to the user’s need. No refueling on the site is

necessary because the fuel elements are always in the sealed fuel chamber and transported to and from

the factory for refueling under surveyed condition. Refueling is done by the replacement of fuel

chamber. The length of the fuel cycle chosen depends on the economic analysis of the fuel inventory

for particular situation of the reactor and its application. The FBNR fuel elements have high burn up

capacity. The size of the reserve fuel chamber can be adapted to individual needs. The replacement of

fuel chamber is done at any desired time interval and could be set at every 10 years or for the

reactor lifetime.

There is no need for fresh fuel to be stored at the reactor site since the sealed fuel chamber is

transported to and from the factory where the refueling process is performed. The spent fuel are

confined in the sealed fuel chamber and kept cool by its water tank. It can be sent back to the factory at

any time when the radiological requirements are met. No unauthorized access to the fresh or spent fuel

is possible because the fuel elements are either in the core or in the fuel chamber under sealed

conditions. Therefore, no clandestine diversion of nuclear fuel material is possible.

24. Some Other Characteristics of FBNR

FBNR is simple in design, inherently safe without adverse environmental impact.

The FBNR is shop fabricated, thus it guarantees the high quality fabrication and economic

mass production process.

FBNR uses a proven technology namely that of the conventional pressurized water reactors (PWR).

FBNR is small in nature. The optimum size is about 70 MWe. The higher power can be

achieved at the cost of a lower thermodynamic efficiency.

The obvious simplicity of the design and the lack of necessity for complicated control system,

make the reactor highly economic.


The steam generator is housed within the pressure vessel having an integrated system, thus

avoiding the problems associated with a possible steam generator leakage.

Easy dismantling and transportability.

The reactor can be operated with a reduced number of operators or even be remotely operated

without any operator on site.

FBNR is an Inherently Safe and Passively Cooled Reactor.

The FBNR is a nuclear power plant for urban or remote localities.

The FBNR is designed to produce electricity alone or to operate as a cogeneration plant

producing simultaneously: electricity, desalinated water, and steam for industrial purposes and

heat for district heating. A Multi- Effect Distillation (MED) plant may be used for water

desalination. An estimated 1000 m3/day of potable water could be produced at 0.6 MW(e)

reduction of the electric power.

No Need for On-Site Refueling. The reactor’s fuel chamber is fuelled in the factory. The fuel

chamber is sealed by the national and international safeguard authorities.

The FBNR can have a very long fuel cycle time depending on the projected size of reserve fuel

chamber and the fuel enrichment. The core life is decided according to the user’s need. No

refueling on the site is necessary because the fuel elements are always in the sealed fuel

chamber and transported to and from the factory for refueling under surveyed condition.

Refueling is done by the replacement of fuel chamber. The length of the fuel cycle chosen

depends on the economic analysis of the fuel inventory for particular situation of the reactor

and its application.

There is no need for fresh fuel to be stored at the reactor site since the sealed fuel chamber is

transported to and from the factory where the refueling process is performed.

The spent fuel are confined in the sealed fuel chamber and kept cool by its water tank. It can be

sent back to the factory at any time when the radiological requirements are met. No

unauthorized access to the fresh or spent fuel is possible because the fuel elements are either in

the core or in the fuel chamber under sealed condition. Therefore, no clandestine diversion of

nuclear fuel material is possible.

FBNR resists against “Terrorist Action”, “Explosion”, “Earthquake”, “Flooding”, “Fire”,

“Tornado” and “Bombing”. Any adverse event disturbs the signals from the multiple detectors

that go into the control system. Any abnormal signal outside the range of operation from any of

the detectors will signal an accident. In such a case the power is automatically cut off, the pump

and the fuel elements will fall out of the reactor core by the force of gravity and become stored

safely in the passively cooled fuel chamber.

Due to its inherent safety and passive cooling characteristics, the FBNR does not have the

complicated and expensive control and emergency core cooling systems existing in the

conventional reactors.

It does not need sophisticated containment building.

It does not need fuel storage on site.

There is no fuel assembly.

There is no large expensive pressure vessel.


FBNR utilizes the existing well proven Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) technology. There

are various firms that can furnish components of the reactor. The fabrication of the reactor

essentially involves assembling the components fabricated elsewhere around the world.

FBNR can be built in urban area as it is inherently safe and has a reduced environmental

impact. Its underground containment building hides its industrial image and makes the nuclear

power plant with FBNR an agreeable place to visit and can become a pleasant park or a garden

for the city.

A small developing country can benefit from the development of FBNR. The electricity and

desalinated water are the urgent necessities of humanity in general and any developing country

in particular. The engagement of a country in the development of FBNR will help advancement

of science and technology in that country.

A small country with no nuclear technology and modest capital can contribute to the development

of the FBNR. The bureaucracy and complicated licensing procedures in industrialized countries

make deployment of any new reactor concept too slow in those countries. The country can

accept the standards set by the IAEA with minimum additional requirements. The industrial

countries have developed many new exigencies that have complicated the deployment of new

nuclear reactors.

FBNR is a technically sound project. The principles of FBNR concept are simple and easily can

be understood even by lay persons.

FBNR is economically competitive. Innovation creates a new paradigm. FBNR utilizes the

“Economy of Numbers” instead of “Economy of Scale”. The FBNR components are shop

fabricated with much higher quality than is possible to be done on the site. The simplicity and

mass production process will make them very economic.

FBNR is given the title of “People’s reactor” and “Peace Reactor”. The title of “People’s

Reactor” was suggested as it is at disposition of all who are interested in the project. The

stakeholders are humanity in general without any restrictions. This is possible as it is a fool

proof non-proliferating nuclear reactor. The title “Peace Reactor” was suggested as it can serve

as an instrument of peace by “bringing together” the adverse countries around a common high

technical project in the interest of establishing harmony and peace. How noble it would be

should some of the countries come together in order to develop the FBNR project producing

technology, electricity, desalinated water, and above all peace.

25. Spent Fuel of FBNR Is Nuclear Waste

The spent fuel from FBNR is in a form and size (15 mm diameter spheres) that can directly be used

as a source of radiation for irradiation purposes in agriculture, industry, and medicine. This feature

results in a positive impact on waste management and environmental protection. Therefore, the spent

fuel from FBNR should not be considered as waste as it can perform useful functions. Should

reprocessing not be allowed, the spent fuel elements can easily be vitrified in the fuel chamber and the

whole chamber deposited directly in a waste repository. These factors result in reduced adverse

environmental impact.


Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the 3 years

financial support (Research Contract No. 12960) to develop the FBNR nuclear reactor concept in its

program of Small Reactors Without On-Site Refuelling (SRWOSR). Also to thank to Roque Antonio

Santos, for revision and editing of the manuscripts of this paper.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest

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© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article

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sustainability and the fixed bed nuclear reactor (fbnr)

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